Material handling apparatus



March 7, 1939.

y W. F. HALL MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 29, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 March 7, 19 9. w. F. HALL 2,1 9 2 MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS I March 7,1939. w. F. HALL MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 29, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 w n m mwll i v ww a u" \%N 3 M :WE Ill/I'm Vw M fi M o "m v w c 1 March 7, 1939.

W. F. HALL MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 29, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar. 7, 1939 PATENT OFFICE 2,149,289 MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS William F. Hall, Muncy, Pa., assignor to Sprout,

Waldron lit-Company, Muncy, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 29, 1936, Serial No. 61,333

1 Claim.

the provision of means adapted to increase the 5, capacity of cutting and screening machines in which the material acted upon is repeatedly subjected to the action of rotatable knives'or cutters in a screening chamber until the pieces are fine enough to pass through the screen.

It is another object of the invention to provide a machine of the character described which is particularly. adapted for use in conjunction with the flocking or defiberizing of rags, sheet ptuclp, sulphite pulp, leather scraps, hemp hurds, e

v It is yet another object of. the invention to utilize a flowing current of air in-a machine of the class described to expedite the passage of cut material from the screen and prevent fouling.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a machine of the class described in which vent passages communicating with the atmosphere are provided at spaced points adjacent the external surface of the screen, and sub- 2 tion means are provided to induce a flow of air into the housing, and producing a flow of air and screened material to a collector where the cut material is accumulated.

Other-objectsand advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description,

the accompanying drawings and the appended claim.

In. the drawings which disclose a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic front elevation view of a cutting and screening device constructed inaccordance with this invention, detailed features of the parts being omitted for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the invention as illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a preferred form of cutting or reducing machine;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view .of the machine shown in sectional view in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a part of the structure shown in Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical elevation taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and

Fi 7 is a greatly enlarged view of the structure shown in Fig. 6.

In-the drawings, in which'like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views thereof, the numeral Ill designates a cracking or cutting machine adapted to reduce materials of various kinds. The machine is rigidly supported on spaced parallel bed members I I and I2, shown as floor joists.

The machine I!) includes a housing compris- 5 ing lower side walls i 3 and I4, end walls I5 and I6 and upper arcuately shaped top section l1, effective in conjunction with an opposed arcuate section [8 to complete the housing. A hopper I9, formed integrally with the top housing section l8 affords a passage to the interior of the housing through which materials to be cut may be passed when the sections are in normal, or closed position, as shown in Fig. 3.

The upper arcuate section II is pivotally supported on a longitudinal axis 29 adjacent the upper edge of the lower side wall I4 for swinging movement to an open position to permit access to a part of theinterior of the housing.

The upper housing member I 8 is pivoted on a longitudinal axis 2| adjacent the upper edge of the side wall l3 to permit movement to the position shown in the dotted outline in Fig. 3.

V The plurality of similar longitudinally extending knives 22, are mounted, preferably adjustably, on spider 23 which in turn is fixed to a shaft 24 journalled in the end walls of the housing in bearings 24a and 24b for rotation on a substantially horizontal axis.

i l plurality of stationary knives 25, 26, 21, 28 30 and 29 are supported, preferably adjustably, within the housing in position to co-act with the rotary knives carried on'the spider 23. The knife 25'is carried on the free end of the upper housing member l'l, knives 26 and 29 are sup- 35 ported upon similar longitudinally extending shelves 39 and 3|, and the knives 21 and 28 are supported by a rigid frame member 32 of inverted troughlike cross section which extends between the end walls of the housing.

The before-mentioned structural features of the rotary and stationary knives are disclosed in the patent to Snyder, No. 1,666,797, dated April 17, 1928, to which reference may be had for detailed features of construction not specifically set forth herein.

The rotary and stationary knives are substantially surrounded by a segmental screened cutting chamber 33, extending substantially coaxially of the shaft 24 throughout the length 50 of the housing. In the present instance, the chamber 33 consists of an upper screen 34, carried by a rigid frame 35 arranged to be supported by the housing section I! in spaced relaand are removably held against radial displacement by similar arms 43 and 43 pivoted in the housing at 44 and 44 respectively.

As will be evident from an examination of Fig. 3 the screened cutting chamber 33 is adapted to be charged with material to "be cut; through the hopper I9, which in turn' is open to the atmosphere.

It will likewise be observed that the cutting chamber is spaced from the side walls of the housing, it being noted in this connection that out material thrown from thechamber through the upper screen, may pass to the lower part of the housing through the space between the right-hand end of the knife 26, and the adjacent inside surface of the side wall |4.

Referring now to Figs. 5, 6 and '1, the screens 34, 38 and 31 are of relatively fine mesh and may vary dependent upon the size of the cut particles desire-d, through a'wide range, it having been found for example that fine meshes of from 30 to 60- may be very. satisfactorily utilized in conjunction with the machine. It will be understood of course that screens of greater or lesser mesh than those enumerated are contemplated within the scope of the invention.

Means is provided to reinforce the screenwithout materially reducing'its effective passage area. As shown in Fig. 5, the screen reinforcing means comprises a foraminous plate 45 to which the screen is attached at spaced points 46 (Fig. 7) as by means of brazing or welding.

The plate 45,,like the screen, consists of indedependent'sections radiallyexternalof, and in surface engagement with, the three respective screen sections 34, 31 and 38, as will be seen in Fig. 3. In the present instance, the plates 45 are formed with horizontally and peripherally aligned apertures 41, spaced apart by horizontal and'peripheral webs 48 and respectively. The apertures 41 are greatly larger than the apertures of the screen sections and the relatively heavy character of the plate 45 permits of diminishing the size of the connec'tingweb members 48 and 49 to such-an extent as to cause their total-areato be relatively small as compared with the area of the apertures 41 so that a minimum of the total area of the fine mesh screen isobstructed. For a purpose which "shall be hereinafter pointed out in detaiLthe apertures 41 are characterized by opposed parallel edges 58 and 5| which lie in planes substantially normal to the longitudinal axisof the screen chamber, and other connecting edges 52 and 53, preferably defining-right'angles with the edges 58 and 5|, so that the'webs 48 and 49 are of substantially uniform width.

It will be apparent that the plate sections 45' are effective .tori'gidly support their respective screens and that the characteristics of the apertures formed in the plates is such as to give a strongnonstruction while obstructing a minimum area of the screens.

Reverting now to Figs. 3 and 4; the housing I0 is venteii to the atmosphere to permit a oirculation of air in the space defined between the internal surfaces of itswalls and the.external surface of the cutting chamber, or screen. To this end a plurality of vent pipes54, are fitted in the upper housing section H on a line spaced above -the level of the longitudinal axis of the cutting chamber, and vents or passages 55 and 56 re-' spectively, provide communication between the atmosphere and the space in the housing adjacent a lower portion of the screen. The vent pipes 54 are preferably threaded into the upper housing section, their inwardly projecting ends 51 lying adjacent the external surface of the screen 34 on a line proximate to its upper edge.

The vents 55 and 56, as shown, comprise spaced parallel plates 58 and59, welded at theirexternal ends to the edges of apertures 60 formed in side doors 6|, removably supported on the side walls I3 and I4 of the housing. It willbe unde'rstood that the plates Hand 59 extend to and connect with the ends of the housing, defining continuous conduits. The vents. 55 and 56 extend inwardly and upwardly from their points of attachment to the side doors 6|, their inner ends 62 lying adjacent the external surface of the cutting chamber and preferably below the plane defined by the horizontal axis of the latter.

Theinteriors of the vents 55 and 56 are preferably divided to direct air angularly both above and below the longitudinal screen frame members 38' and 38" thereby preventing the accumulation 'of cut material in the space above and immediately below the latter parts. Thus a dividing member 63, comprising a single plate turned at sue define a V shaped section is rigidly fixed in each vent with its spaced edgesin the plane 62 of the inner end of the vent. The spaced inner edges of the dividing member are preferably connected by a longitudinal strip 65 to prevent the accumulation of cut material in the section. It will be apparent that the interiors of the vents may be divided in any other desirable way or,

' that they may be utilized as single air passages,

or as a plurality of independent vents independently connected to the housing.

The upper vents 54, as well as the lower vents 55 and 56 may be suitably controlled to regulate the quantity of air fiowingto the housin from either or both. In this instance control means such as the plates 66, adjustably supported on the external surfaces of the side doors. 6| by pin and slot connections 61 function to regulate the quantity 'of' air admitted to the housing through vents 55 and56. Thumb screws 68 may 'ing and downwardly around the external surface of the chamber into the bottom of the housing. Referring to Figs; 1, 2 and 3 the open bottom of the housing communicateswith a conduit 69 the lower end of which is connected to'the suction side of an exhaust fan 10. The discharge end of the exhaustfan isconnectedto a collector 1| by means of a conduit 12. The fan 18' is ar 55 be availed of to lock the control plates in any ranged to be driven from a suitable source of 10 power such as a line shaft 13 through the medium' of pulleys 14, 15 and a belt 16, or the like. For

convenience, the. cutting machine'may be-.likewise driven from the line shaft 13.; A pulley 11 on the line shaft, a. pulley 18 on one end'of .7

the knife shaft 24 and a belt 19 accomplish that end. It will be understood that any suitable type of prime mover may be employed to rotate the shaft 13.

In operation, power is applied to the shaft-l3 to effect rotation of the knives within the cutting chamber, a flow of air being simultaneously induced in the housing by the exhaust fan l0. As the co-acting knives within the cutting chamber reduce the material with which the chamber is charged to sufiiciently small dimensions to terial to pass through the screen. Simultaneously 1 54, 55 and 56. The flow of air from vents 54 will pass downwardly through the space in the .housing between the exterior of the screened cutting chamber and the walls of the housing, and substantially tangentially to the surface of the screen to flush or scrub cut materials from the external surface of the latter, and then carry them downwardly into the lower section of the housing through the space between the righthand end of knife 26 and the internal surface of the housing.

As has heretofore been described, air flowing to the interior of the housing from the vents and 56 will function to relieve the screen of cut material in the space above the screen frame members 38 and 38" and at the same time a current from the lower parts of these vents will function to flush the lower parts of the screens 31 and 38.

It will be seen that the induced flow of air, into the cutting chamber and through the housing, serves a two-fold purpose, that is, it functions to augment the natural tendency of cut material, as soon as it is fine enough, to pass through the screen defining the cutting chamber and, secondly, it serves to constantly flush or relieve the external surface of the cutting chamber from out material which may tend to cling thereto, or accumulate. In conjunction with this last mentioned attribute of the induced air currents, it will be noted that theparallel side edges 5|] and 5| of the apertures 41 in the reinforcing plates 45 lend themselves to directing the air flowing externally of the cutting chamber in a. plane normal to the chamber axis thus preventing irregular currents'or eddies and increasing the effectiveness of the flushing or scrubbing effect of the air which is admitted to the housing through vents 54, 55 and 56.

It will likewise be apparent that the flowing current of air acts as a carrying medium to remove cut material from the housing to the collector as rapidly as it passes from the cutting chamber, thus obviating temporary stoppage of the machine for cleaning or unloading purposes.

Although obviously not limited to such use, the invention is particularly advantageous in connection with the flocking or defiberizing of rags, sheet pulp, sulphite pulp, leather scraps, hemp hurds or in the reduction of various other materials to minute proportions. The flocking of rags to a consistency suitable for use as a dusting material in the manufacture of artificial suede constitutes a specific application to which the invention is especially adapted and it may be advantageously employed in the reduction of a wide range of materials to their powder forms.

While the form of apparatus herein described ting material to a fine powder comprising a housing having a collecting chamber for screened material, cutters rotatably supported in said housing, fixed edged cutters supported on said housing with the edges thereof located substantially at the circle described by the blade edges of the rotatable cutters, a fine mesh wire screen of from 30 to mesh per inch substantially surrounding the lower half of said rotatable cutters to define, with said fixed cutters, a cylindrical curved cutting chamber spaced from the walls of said housing to predetermi'ne the size of out material which shall pass from said chamber and separating the cutting chamber from said collecting chamber, an arcuate reinforcing rigid grid in supporting engagement with the radially external surface of said screen, said grid having parallel opposed edges lying in spaced vertical planes which extend substantially normal to the horizontal plane through the axis of said cutting chamber, and means providing downward air currents along the outer parts of said screen and grid in directions parallel to said 

